Cheer up,you could be joining the Summer Bash next season.That should increase sales for that weekend. Always talk of why attendances are down and let's look for an excuse. Whatever is lost at MW will be gained at SB and vice versa.

Internet arguments about away support always end well.

The Magic Weekend needs moving around the country more in my opinion. Birmingham or Nottingham would be interesting venues and not that far from the traditional RL areas. The same venue every year makes you think "ok, I'll miss this one but I'll go next year". I know a number f bands try to avoid playing tours every year as fans drop off quickly if they think it will be an annual event. I know this is annual but moving it around would give a bit more prestige to the city that holds it, keep it more interesting for travelling fans and hopefully engage the locals more as it will be a one off event for the city.

Suprised its never been moved to the Midlands with quite a few amateur rugby league clubs in the area. Moving it to London or Liverpool wouldn't in my opinion be a good idea.

I think the problem at the moment is we don't know what the underlying strategy is for MW.

Is it first and foremost a money spinner?
Is it to increase fans/awareness in new areas?
Is it to help increase participation in those areas via community clubs?
Is it to help boost an expansion club?

I imagine the RFL see it as purely a money spinner, with the hope that it positively effects the other three, but the problem as always is it's half-d.


I like your idea to move it every year, create the prestige and honour for the city holding it, but there also needs to be a broader strategy from the RFL to leave a legacy in the area it's held after it's been played.

For instance, if after MW next weekend, the RFL announce MW2018 will be in Coventry or Liverpool, we need to have: RFL development officers in that city's schools and supporting any existing community clubs right away; RFL execs creating partnerships with that cities public bodies and key businesses; a targeted and visible marketing strategy in that city; a clear plan on how to harness the interest created post-MW via participation and/or supporting their local club.

I really don't get this either. On top of the ground being small it isn't the most glamorous place in the world and the ground is hard to get to if you are travelling on public transport, harder than Newcastle and Manchester anyway which are a walk away from trains. I have been to Newcastle every year and the main reason is it is easy to get to on the train, only takes a couple hours from hull.

When you think about it, Coventry would only have 9-10,000 more people than some individual games such as wigan-saints and hull derby. Ridiculous to think that 1 game could get almost as much as 3 games.

If the venue was moved I would go for Olympic myself. Would be great to have a weekend in London, decent sized ground which is around the size of grounds we have used before and the perfect way to show off our game in the capital.

Considering you've been banging on about how Toulouse should be in SL for months, the above comment is self defeating because Catalans Magic Weekend fans will be thin on the ground, and Toulouse would be worse. I wonder how much we'll miss Widnes or Huddersfield fans next year? We should cover that and if Feath get promoted as well, they won't be lacking in numbers.

Because Coventry have shown a lot of interest in hosting it in previous years, including this one.

But you've inadvertently helped me make my point, is it all about attendances and cold hard cash, or is there a strategy to expand to new audiences etc?

I think it's probably about both, however there is no good in expanding to a new audience and then the very people that we are trying to attract can't fit into the stadium. Maybe I look at things a little too simplistically though. Also, as Yorksguy has said, the ground at Coventry is terrible for accessibility, is nowhere near anything and the place isn't exactly a cosmopolitan city is it. I went to the double header there in the four nations and it wasn't exactly one of the best experiences I've had. It was OK, but no way a contender for MW in my opinion. It's OK them showing a lot of interest, but the place needs to be suitable for the event. Having attended there, my opinion is that neither the stadium or the city is suitable for an event like the MW. I would love to see it taken to the Midlands, but the only stadium I can think of that could even be considered due to capacity would be Villa Park, but having never been I can't comment on suitability, but at least it is close to Birmingham which should have more to offer the fans for a weekend than Coventry does.

I agree with much of that. I wasn't necessarily banging the drum for Coventry, just using it as an example.

One thing I take from your post though is who is the event aimed that? Fans of existing SL clubs, or locals, or both? Is it better to have 30,000 locals (new fans) or 50,000 existing SL fans - I'm not sure myself, and I'm not sure the RFL do either. That's why it comes down to a question of strategy and what the RFL want to achieve with MW.

One things for sure though, if the RFL are trying to use MW as a vehicle to attract new audiences to RL & to boost grassroots RL in that area (and help a local pro side if there is one), then they're doing a pretty poor job of it.

I suspect it is about £, which is why your points are focused on how the attendance can be maxed out with existing SL fans.

Edited.

Typed it & posted on my mobile phone while on a moving bus .....

What's the excuse for the dross you post [iJohn Flatcap Dozey ?[/i

Here's a question, has our favourite imaginary Frenchman ever suggested moving magic to France?? There would be a lot more Catalans fans there if it was! Might even be able to fill a minibus!